PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Castro (ranked 24030 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Vonden (ranked 4946 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Castro
vs
Vonden

215 cm
26
194 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taylor Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrew Vonden!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vonden swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Vonden shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Castro manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vonden trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Castro really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vonden postures up in Castro's guard and throws a big left but Castro blocks it.
Castro throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Vonden wanted to stand there but Castro had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vonden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castro is keeping the position for now.
Castro wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Vonden manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vonden seems to be working for a kimura but Castro defends the submission attempt.
Vonden is controlling the pace.
Castro is trying to stand.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Vonden not doing much here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vonden fails to land with a series of punches.

Vonden scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Castro throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Vonden bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vonden trying to control the action but Castro is working from the bottom.
Castro is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vonden off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Vonden right now.
Castro is punishing Vonden with some ground and pound.
Castro is hanging on to Vonden's back as he tries to escape.
Castro scores with punches to the body.
Vonden covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Castro avoiding Vonden 's attempts to control his hands.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
I really don't envy Vonden right now.
Castro is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Vonden grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Vonden trying to control the hands but Castro won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Vonden.
Castro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Castro looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Castro is landing with strikes. Vonden can't take much more of this.
Castro has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Castro has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Vonden.
Castro biding his time, looking for the opening.

Vonden is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Castro has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Castro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Castro moves to clinch but Vonden breaks away
and Vonden counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vonden throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Castro.

Castro has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vonden stalling.
Castro fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Vonden manages to pull guard.
Castro throws a big right hand that misses.
Castro trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vonden's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro landing with the ground and pound.

Castro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castro controls from within his opponent's guard.
Castro trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vonden's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Castro postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vonden can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Castro controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Vonden closes the distance and pushes Castro back into the cage.

Vonden jumps into guard, dragging Castro to the mat.
Castro postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Castro trying to control but Vonden is working from the bottom.
Castro keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vonden's head.

Castro decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Castro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vonden can do to turn this around?

Vonden moves into the clinch successfully.
Castro tries to pull guard but Vonden forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Vonden breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Vonden closes the distance and pushes Castro back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castro pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Castro is on top in guard.

Vonden wants to sweep but no luck.
Vonden keeps trying to improve his position.
Castro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vonden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castro won't allow Vonden to sweep him here.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Castro landing with the ground and pound.
Castro working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vonden's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro distracts Vonden with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Castro postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Castro sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Vonden has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Castro can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vonden is breathing heavily.
Castro sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro lands a couple of elbows.
Castro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Taylor Castro will probably get the nod.
That's time! Castro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Castro has taken the fight to the clinch.

Vonden lands a takedown into guard.
Castro is looking to stand back up but Vonden counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Castro.

Vonden misses with a head shot. Castro uses the momentum to regain guard.
Vonden stops Castro from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vonden slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vonden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Castro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castro is looking for a triangle but Vonden pushes his legs off easily.
Taylor Castro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castro trying to strike off his back.

Castro looking for a guillotine here but Vonden defends easily.
Vonden trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Vonden throws an elbow that misses. Castro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vonden's guard. Nice move by Castro!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Castro postures up.
Castro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vonden has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Castro throwing strikes but missing.
Castro is stalling in the full guard.
Castro prevents Vonden from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vonden looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vonden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castro is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Castro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vonden defends it easily.
Castro wants to sweep here but Vonden controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vonden wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.
Vonden must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vonden throws a strike but Castro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Vonden wants to sweep here but Castro controlling him for the moment.
Vonden has control of Castro's left arm, preventing Castro from doing any damage.
Vonden looking for a sweep. Not yet Vonden, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro stands up over Vonden, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Castro throws a big elbow that misses.
Andrew Vonden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Vonden looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Castro has picked Vonden up and slammed him! Vonden can't keep hold of the triangle and Castro manages to pass to side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Taylor Castro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taylor Castro!